Ontario Cities and TownsWhich Ontario cities and towns should you put on your travel itinerary? Toronto, Ottawa & Niagara Falls have much to offer but so do the smaller cities and quaint little towns of Ontario. Which Ontario cities and towns should you put on your travel agenda? It's a natural question. With a province the size of Ontario, at first glance it might seem hard to choose. Where should you go?A lot will depend on your personal interests, but I'd recommend that if you're including several cities in your trip, you should at least consider starting with the Big Three: Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls. After that, pick the centres that match your personal needs (more on this below). THE BIG THREE
Why Toronto? In terms of population, Toronto is the largest city in the province, with about 2.5 million people in the city itself, and about five million in the Greater Toronto Area (which means the city and its satellite communities). It offers all of the big city attractions, such as entertainment, museums, shopping, fine dining, professional sports, and unique tourist attractions like the CN Tower, the Toronto Zoo, etc. Why Ottawa? It's the Canadian capital and as such is a treasure-house of cultural properties like the National Gallery of Canada, the National Arts Centre (for performing arts), and of course the Parliament Buildings with their popular Mounties and the Changing of the Guards Ceremony. With a population of 812,000, it's a green, walkable place: a pleasant surprise for a capital city. Why Niagara Falls? Niagara Falls is one of the great natural wonders of the world and it attracts about 12 million visitors a year. Although the City of Niagara Falls (Canada) is small (population approximately 82,000), the surrounding Niagara Region is densely populated and its cities and towns are rich in history, art and entertainment. OTHER ONTARIO CITIES AND TOWNS And just what are those "other urban areas"? My goal with this web site is to introduce you to Ontario cities and towns that are bit off the beaten path. How do you choose what's best for you? Start by thinking of your interests. For example, if you like theatre, try a couple of days in Niagara-on-the-Lake or Stratford.
If you like exploring heritage and museums, visit Hamilton in the Golden Horseshoe region. Are you a connoisseur of craft and art? Book a night or two in Picton in Prince Edward County. Looking for that small-town feel? Plan a day-trip to Paris (Ontario, that is!). Or how about a small city with a vacation-resort feel to it, situated on a waterfront? Then you might want to check out Orillia. Here are some Ontario cities and towns to sample. I'll be adding more pages as this web site grows. Barrie - Just north of Toronto this city boasts Horseshoe Resort and Snow Valley, two major ski centers. Visitors also enjoy one of Canada's largest antique malls. Burlington - Between Toronto and Hamilton. This growing city has a lovely waterfront, fun music festivals, a nice little art gallery and a great museum called Ireland House. Cambridge - African Lion Safari, a huge antique market in a restored heritage building, a butterfly conservatory and more. Dundas - This historic valley town is no longer a secret. Word is getting out about its gourmet delights, heritage treasures and artsy attractions. Elora - Elora has long been popular with daytrippers looking for fine arts, antiques and the beautiful Elora Gorge. Glen Williams - Artists workshops, an antique mall, a British-style pub and fine baking. Georgina - On Simcoe Lake. This resort town offers recreation for nature lovers, sportsmen, and connoisseurs of art and heritage. Guelph - An historic city with museums, art galleries, walking tours, live theatre and ... a donkey santuary! Hamilton - Known for its steel but loved for its waterfalls, Royal Botanical Gardens, festivals and cool museums. Kingston - One of Canada's most historic towns. A lakeside city with great scenery, an amazing old fort, and a lively cultural life. Kitchener – see "Region of Waterloo" London – Children will enjoy Storybook Gardens, London Regional Children's Museums and Fanshawe Pioneer Village. Their parents can take in cool museums like Banting House or Eldon House, or sample the wares on a Labatt's Brewery Tour. Mississauga - The fourth largest city in Ontario. Live theatre, a symphony orchestra, historic museums, and Port Credit (her own waterfront community). Niagara on the Lake - Often called Ontario's prettiest town. A lovely daytrip from Niagara Falls. History, shopping and of course the Shaw Festival Theatre. Orillia - Lakeside town with live theatre, shopping and a wonderful old house museum built by one of Canada's most famous and funniest writers. Oshawa - Known as an auto makers town, the city's murals reflect that history. Car lovers will also want to visit the Canadian Automotive Museum. Other cultural attractions include the Robert McLauglin Gallery and the historic Parkwoood Estate. Owen Sound - Beautifully situated on Georgian Bay and hence a great place for outdoor recreation, Owen Sound has a lively cultural life as well, with history museums such as the Billy Bishop Home and the Marine and Rail Museum and an art gallery devoted to famous Canadian artist Tom Thomson. Paris - The "other" Paris. A small town with unique architecture. Peterborough and area - Known as the Gateway to Kawarthas Cottage Country. Attractions include the Trent-Severen Waterway and Peterborough Lock Lift, Peterborough Museum, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, the Canadian Canoe Museum, Riverview Park and Zoo, and the Lang Pioneer Village. Port Dover - Come for the perch, the beach... or Friday the 13th? Region of Waterloo- The region which includes Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo serves up lots of great food (Oktoberfest! and the Kitchener Farmers Market) and fun (African Lion Safari) and history (Woodside Historic Museum). St Catharines - Home of the Niagara Wine Festival. While you're here, stop in to the art gallery, watch the foreign ships come in through the Welland Canal Centre, and take a 5 cents ride on the carousel at old Port Dalhousie. St. Jacob’s - It’s near Kitchener-Waterloo in the Region of Waterloo, and it’s known as the “Mennonite village”. You’ll find a lot of handmade crafts like Mennonite quilts, fine handmade furniture, and delicious food in the downtown shops and at the largest Farmers Market in Canada. Good live theatre too. Stratford - Home of the Stratford Shakespeare Theatre, the downtown will keep you busy shopping for Aboriginal art, Irish sweaters, gourmet chocolates and more. Sudbury – Dynamic Earth, Science North, art galleries, live theatre and historic museums make this northern city a tourist destination. Windsor-Essex Region – The most southern point of Canada. Some of its attractions include Art Gallery of Windsor, The Kite Museum, live theatre and concerts, Fringe Fest, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Fort Malden, and of course the world famous birding sanctuary Point Pelee National Park. Waterloo – see "Region of Waterloo" For other great places in Canada to visit, see Travel to Canada. |
